despegue

takeoff

noun des-PEH-geh Rare

Also means

launch

Usage Note

Despegue is the noun from despegar (to take off, to detach). In aviation it means the moment a plane leaves the ground; figuratively el despegue económico refers to an economic takeoff or boom. The antonym in aviation is aterrizaje (landing). Note that despegar also means 'to unstick' or 'to peel off.'

Examples

"El despegue del avión se retrasó una hora."

Natural Translation

The plane's takeoff was delayed by one hour.

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